Valve stem grinding device

ABSTRACT

A portable grinding device for grinding squarely the end of a worn valve stem for a valve-in-head internal combustion engine. The device is removably attached to a stationary part of the engine and the above operation is performed without removing the head structure from the engine, i.e., the valve remains intact with the head structure. The device includes a guide pintle threadedly received by an upright stud (a stationary part of the engine adjacent the valve stem), brackets for swingingly supporting a rotatable grinding wheel above the end of the valve stem, and a journaled shaft having a grinding wheel attached at the lower end and the other end being adapted to receive the chuck of a conventional drill motor for rotating the grinding wheel. The guide pintle guidingly supports the major structure of the device and provides for swinging movement of the grinding wheel about the vertical axis of the guide pintle, enabling the rotating grinding wheel to sweepingly engage the worn end of the valve stem repeatedly. The lower end of the guide pintle is adapted to be slowly threaded further onto the stud of the engine, thus providing for selectively adjusting the height of the rotating grinding wheel so as to wear away a greater portion of the worn valve stem with each sweep, eventually squaring the end thereof.

United States Patent [7 21 Inventors Leon Day 3027 Tuca Lane, Memphis; Jiles Joe McCandless, 2850 Collierville- Arlington Road, Collierville, both of Tenn.

Primary Examiner-William R. Armstrong Attorney-John R. Walker, 111

ABSTRACT: A portable grinding device for grinding squarely the end'of a worn valve stem for a valve-in-head internal combustion engine. The device is removably attached to astationary part of the engine and the above operation is performed without removing the head structure from the engine, i.e., the valve remains intact with the head structure. The device includes a guide pintle threadedly received by an upright stud (a stationary part of the engine adjacent the valve stem), brackets for swingingly supporting a rotatable grinding wheel above the end of the valve stem, and a joumaled shaft having a grinding wheel attached at the lower end and the other end being adapted to receive the chuck of a conventional drill motor for rotating the grinding wheel. The guide pintle guidingly supports the major structure of the device and provides for swinging movement of the grinding wheel about the vertical axis of the guide pintle, enabling the rotating grinding wheel to sweepingly engage the worn end of the valve stem repeatedly. The lower end of the guide pintle is adapted to be slowly threaded further onto the stud of the engine, thus providing for selectively adjusting the height of the rotating grinding wheel so as to wear away a greater portion of the worn valve stem with each sweep, eventually squaring the end thereof.

' 45 INVENTORS ll LEON E. DAY JILES J. M CANDLESS BY zz/m1: //////////////f m VALVE STEM GRINDING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to devices for grinding valve stems.

2. Description of the Prior Art The art of grinding valves per se is old, however, valve grinding is considered to normally comprise an operation involving the refinishing of the head portion or more specifically, the valve face and, of course, the coacting valve seat of the block or head structure of the engine, depending upon whether the engine is of the type referred to as valve-in-head or the substantially obsolete L-head type, i.e., having the valves received in the lower block structure of the engine.

The prior-art known to the applicant includes the Huse, U.S. Pat. No. 1,933,016; the Densmore U.S. Pat. No. 2,258,505; the Santro, U.S. Pat. No. 2,480,307 and the Fuller et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,021,651. Each of the above patents require the valve stem to be removed from the engine which requires removal of the head structure from the engine, a rather involved maintenance operation consuming many man hours of labor which makes for a substantially costly expenditure on the part of the vehicle owner.

The present invention involves renewing the surface of the opposite end of the valve stem, i.e., the end acted upon by the rocker arm for the valve-in-head engine. The rocker arm rotates about a horizontal axis displaced from the valve stem, accordingly, there is a wiping or sliding action between the engaging surfaces of the rocker arm and the end of the valve stem as the rocker arm depresses each valve once every cycle of the engine, i.e., thousands of times per minute for an average speed of some vehicles. This sliding action creates friction which in time causes the end of the valve stem to become worn to an irregular or slanted shape. This slanted end of the valve stem, in many instances, starts a chain reaction, i.e., eventually causing the valve face and seat to become burnt, necessitating the well-known valve grinding operation. It should be appreciated that a valve stem is held to the head structure by a compression spring and, therefore, is free to float or rotate about its longitudinal axis. The irregular or slant worn end of the valve stem may rotate so as to unevenly engage the rocker arm, i.e., the only contact of the valve stem with the rocker arm is the high point of the slant. When the rocker arm engages the valve stem, i.e., at a high portion which is off center of the elongated centerline of the valve stem, the tendency is to cant the valve stem. This tendency is initially offset by the valve guide which supports the valve stem in optimum alignment so the face portion thereof properly engages the seat. However, this constant lateral force of the valve stem acting on the walls of the valve guide will eventually wear the valve guide, allowing the valve stem to cant, which in turn permits the face portion to become malaligned with the seat, resulting in an improper seal of the combustion chamber. The pressure within the combustion chamber forces the hot gases outwardly of the combustion chamber through the improper seal which very quickly causes a carbon buildup or the like adjacent the improper seal, thus preventing the valve from properly seating until the valve is removed from the engine and the surfaces of the face portion and the seat are reworked.

One attempt to solve the above-mentioned problem was by developing a wear-resistant stem tip, e.g., the Newton et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,865,359. The degree of benefit derived from the Newton, U.S. Pat. No. 2,865,359 and the extent to which it is used is not known by the applicant, however, the problem of irregular wearing of the valve stems in the engines of present day automobiles is still prevalent.

Mr. Henry Ford in his U.S. Pat. No. 1,772,482 taught a method of making valves which involved grinding the end of a valve stem. However, this method is directed toward the manufacturing of a valve stem and also requires the valve stem to be disassociated from the engine.

The Billeter U.S. Pat. No. 2,645,068 pertains to an apparatus for grinding the worn ends of valve tappets. This in vention is directed towards reworking the surface of a valve tappet and is further directed toward the substantially obsolete L-head engine. Additionally, the valve stems are removed from the engine prior to using the Billeter device. Further, the Billeter, U.S. Pat. No. 2,645,068 apparatus is not related to grinding the ends of valve stems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed towards providing an economical and expeditious means of accomplishing the operation of squaring the end of a worn valve stem for a valvein-head internal combustion engine while the valve remains intact with the head structure of the engine. The object being to perform the above task at a predetermined frequency in accordance with other preventative maintenance schedules, i.e., prior to the valve becoming burnt, which results in reduction of efficiency and power output of the engine. The concept of the present invention is that squaring the ends of the worn valve stems prolongs the life of the engine, i.e., enables the engine to operate for a longer period of time prior to requiring the well-known valve grinding rework. The optimum shape for the end of the valve stems is a flat surface, the plane of which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the valve stem. Accordingly, this provides maximum surface to surface contact between the rocker arm and the end of the valve stem. Maintaining this optimum shape for the end of the valve stems assures proper alignment of the valve stem, obviating objectionable wear of the valve guide. The end result being that. the valve face continues to seal properly with the valve seat for a prolonged period of time.

A further object is to provide a rotating abrasive means which is properly aligned to wear away the worn portions of the valve stem. The important feature of the present invention is that a minimum of disassembly of the eng'ne is required in order to accomplish the intended operation. Additionally, the device is adaptable to the chuck of a conventional drill motor so that the abrasive means may be power driven from an external source. It should be appreciated that a drill motor is a common item in a typical mechanics tool inventory, accordingly, the cost of the device of the present invention is greatly minimized by eliminating a self-contained prime mover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the device of the present invention shown attached to the valve structure of a valve-inhead internal combustion engine, with portions of the engine broken away for clarity.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the device as it would appear when attached to an engine, the drill motor being removed to better illustrate the structure of the device.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken as on the line IIIIII of FIG. 2, showing the attachment arrangement with the engine structure.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken as on the line IV-IV of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The valve stem grinding device 11 of the present invention is adapted to be used with any valve-in-head internal combustion engine, particularly those engines used in the present day automobiles.

Referring now to FIG. 1 wherein a portion of a valve-inhead engine is depicted showing the head structure 13 having the valve stem 15 directed upwardly therefrom and being floatably suspended by the typical compression spring 17, the lower end of which rests on the head structure 13 and the upper end rests in an annular cup 19 having the two usual half moon retaining members 21 resting therein and concentrically received within an annular recess (not shown) of the valve stem.

It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that a stud 23, being a stationary part of the engine, has a normal function of supporting actuating means which change the upward directed movement of the pushrods (not shown) of the engine to a downward directed force at the uppermost end 25 of the valve stem 15, causing the valve stem to be moved downward and the spring 17 to be compressed, thus opening the valve head (not shown) at a predetermined sequence. The actuating means which accomplishes the above function is usually referred to as a rocker arm and has varied configured structure depending upon the trade name of the engine. Each individual rocker arm is preferably removed from the head structure 13 of the engine prior to attaching the device 11 to the respective studs 23. The longitudinal axes of the valve stem 15 and the stud 13 as shown in FIG. 1 are in a substantial parallel spaced apart relationship perpendicular to the plane of the head 13. However, more often than not the valve stem 15 may be found to be several degrees from a perpendicular relationship with the plane of the head structure 13, e.g., 13.

Since the rocker arm (not shown) rotates about an axis which is displaced laterally from the valve stem 15 and since the valve stem 15 is moved up and down by the rocker arm (not shown), a wiping or sliding action takes place between the engaging surfaces of the rocker arm and the uppermost end 25 of the valve stem 15. The preferred engagement of the rocker arm and the valve stem 15 is to have a maximum surface to surface contact which is accomplished when the surface of the uppermost end 25 of the valve stem 15 is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the valve stem 15. The friction created by the wiping action between the rocker arm and the end 25 of the valve stem 15 eventually wears the end 25 on a slant, i.e., the surface of the end 25 of the valve stem 15 is no longer perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the valve stem 15.

The valve stem is maintained in its properly seated position, i.e., the face portion (not shown) adjacent the head of the valve stem, making a seal with a valve seat (not shown) which is a part of the head structure, by a tubular valve guide (not shown). The valve stem 15 slides up and down within the close fitting valve guide. The valve stem 15, having the end 25 worn on a slant, rotates about the longitudinal axis of the valve stem 15 so that a high portion of the slant engages the rocker arm. The high portion of the slant, being off center of the longitudinal axis of the valve stem, causes the valve stem 15 to have a tendency to cant.

Initially, this canting tendency is offset by the close fitting valve guide. However, eventually the valve guide gives way to the tremendous leverage exerted by the rocker arm and the valve assumes a canted angle within the worn valve guide. This angle prevents the face portion (not shown) of the valve head from properly sealing with the coacting valve seat resulting in a constant leakage of hot gases. This leakage quickly causes warping and/or burning of the face portion of the valve stem 15 necessitating the well-known and costly valve grinding rework.

This expensive task can be prolonged indefinitely by periodically renewing the surface of the end 25 of the valve stem 15. Assuming, of course, that the renewing is accomplished prior to the valve guide becoming worn and/or the face portion of the valve stem 15 becoming warped, etc. Utilizing the valve stem grinding device 11 of the present invention for squaring the end 25 of a worn valve stem 15 while the valve stem 15 remains intact with the head structure 13 of the engine is a relatively inexpensive procedure, e.g., a realistic comparison is that a valve grinding rework costs 15 times as much as having the valve stems reworked by utilizing the device 11 of the present invention. Accomplishing the valve stem grinding at regular intervals, e.g., l0,000l2,000 miles, will prolong the life of the engine considerably, thus extending the necessity for an initial valve overhaul for more preferable accomplishment simultaneously with the initial major overhaul at the engine.

Preparatory to attaching the device 11 of the present invention to an engine, the minor task of removing the rocker arm cover and the individual rocker arms is accomplished. It should be understood that valve-in-head engines are common for both in line and V-type engines, i.e., the well-known V-8 engine. Performance of these preliminary tasks will expose a plurality of the studs 23 for succeedingly attaching the device 11 thereto.

The device 11 of the present invention generally comprises a nutlike attachment means 27 formed from machine steel or the like having integrally attached thereto a guide pintle 29, a steel shaft 31, a drill motor 33 driving the shaft 31, an upright supporting member 35 formed from bar steel or the like, a radial ann 37 formed from plate steel or the like, a bearing means 39 for rotatably joumaling the shaft 31 to the radial arm 37 adjacent the outer end thereof, and a grinding wheel 41 attached to the rotatable shaft 31.

The nutlike attachment means 27, having a downwardly directed threaded aperture 43, is attached to a stationary part of the engine, preferably to the stud 23 in a manner substantially as illustrated in FIG. 1. Integrally attached to the attachment means 27 is the upwardly directed cylindrical guide pintle 29.

The upright support member 35 is provided with a downwardly directed socket 45 adjacent the lower end thereof which close fittingly and pivotally engages the guide pintle 29 for swinging movement of the rotating grinding wheel 41 about the vertical axis of the guide pintle 29, thus enabling the grinding wheel 41 to be sweepingly passed over the worn end 25 of the valve stem 15 repeatedly.

The radial arm 37 includes a pair of vertically disposed parallel spaced apart platelike members 47, 49 at the inner end thereof and a horizontal platelike member 51 at the outer end. Each of the platelike members 47, 49 is respectively provided with a centrally disposed aperture 53, 55 with the aperture 53 being directly opposite and in alignment with the aperture 55. The upper edges of the vertical platelike members 47, 49 preferably are squared, and the respective lower portions thereof terminate in a semicircular form, substantially as illustrated in FIG. 1. The horizontal platelike member 51, having a rectangular shape, is fixedly attached to the vertical platelike members 47, 49, as by being integrally formed therewith or as by welding or the like, being positioned so that the upper surface thereof is substantially flush with the upper edges of the platelike members 47, 49. It should be understood that the radial arm 37 has a length so that when it pivots about the vertical axis of the guide pintle 29, which is threadedly received by the stud 23, a portion thereof passes adjacent to and above the valve stem 15.

A means of adjusting the reach of the rotating grinding wheel 41 is achieved by providing an elongated aperture 57 adjacent the outer end of the horizontal platelike member 51, as best viewed in FIG. 2. The shaft 31 is rotatably received in the aperture 57, being rotatably supported therein by the bearing means 39, and may be selectively adjusted to infinite positions along the elongated aperture 57 by an upper and lower boss washers 59, 61 and a locknut 63.

From FIG. 4 of the drawings, it may be seen that the washers 59, 61 are confrontingly positioned so that the boss portions thereof are received within the aperture 57. Further, the boss portion of the respective washers 59, 61 has a diameter slightly less than the width of the aperture 57 and the greater diameter of the washers 59, 61 overlappingly engages the respective upper and lower surfaces of the horizontal platelike member 51. The elongated aperture 57 preferably terminates at each end with a radius substantially equal to the radius of the boss portion of the washers 59, 61, as best viewed in FIG. 2.

It should be understood that the bearings means 39 is fixedly attached, as by welding or the like to the lower washer 61 and the upper end thereof is threaded externally to threadedly receive the locknut 63, as best viewed in FIG. 4. Accordingly, when the locknut 63 has been backed off, tension on the washer 61 is relieved enabling the shaft 31 to be slid laterally from one end of the aperture 56 to the other. Additionally, tightening the locknut 63 bindingly engages the overlapping portion of the lower washer 61 against the lower surface of the horizontal platelike member 51 and bindingly engages the overlapping surface of the upper washer 59 against the upper surface of the horizontal platelike member 51 lockingly securing the shaft 31 to any desired position within the limits of the aperture 57.

Also, a snap ring 64 is preferably provided above locknut 63 and bearing means 39 in a groove 64' in shaft 31 to limit downward movement of shaft 31. The grinding wheel 41 is fixedly attached to the lower end of the shaft 31 in any wellknown manner, e.g., bonding agent (not shown) or the shaft 31 may have a threaded portion protruding through a concentric aperture in the grinding wheel 41 to receive an attachment nut (not shown). The upper end of the shaft 31 is received by the chuck portion of the drill motor 33. The drill motor 33, preferably being of an electric-powered or pneumatic-type, causes the shaft 31 to rotate about a vertical axis which in turn rotatingly drives the grinding wheel 41.

The vertical platelike members 47, 49 are additionally provided with a respective elongated arcuate apertures 65, 67 having the center of curvature concentric with the respective apertures 53, 55.

The upper end of the upright member 35 is provided with a pair of parallel spaced apart transverse apertures 69, 71 having a center-to-center spaced apart distance equal to the distance from the center of the aperture 53 to the center of curvature for the aperture 65, as best viewed in FIG. 3. It should be understood that the apertures 55, 67, being in alignment with the apertures 53, 65, have the same spaced apart relationship as do the apertures 53, 65.

The radial arm 37 is axially attached to the upright member 35 by having an axle bolt 73 extending respectively through the apertures 53, 69, 55. From FIG. 3 of the drawings, it may be seen that the vertical platelike members 47, 49 straddle the upright member 35 and FIG. 1 of the drawings shows how the radial arm 37 may be rotated about the horizontal axle bolt 73. The axle bolt 73 is removably secured in the above-mentioned apertures by a pair of nuts 75 threadedly received one at each end thereof so as to pivotally secure the radial arm 37 to the upright member 35.

An angle adjusting means, comprising an elongated bolt 77 received through the apertures 65, 71, 67, respectively bindingly secures the inner surfaces of the vertical platelike members 47, 49 contiguously with the outer surface of the upright member 35 by a pair of nuts 79 being threadedly received one at each end of the bolt 77, as best viewed in FIG. 3.

Situated a predetermined distance below the aperture 71 of the upright member 35 and substantially in line with an extended line running through the center of the apertures 69, 71 is an indicator pip 81, preferably one on each side as best viewed in FIG. 1 wherein only one is shown. Adjacent the lower edge of the respective platelike members 47, 49 is alignment indicia. The alignment indicia, when compared with the indicator pip 81, is intended to depict the angular relationship between the longitudinal axis of the valve stem and the plane of the head structure 13, e.g., FIG. 1 shows the valve stem 15 substantially perpendicular with the plane of the head 13 in which case in order to grind the end of the valve stem 15 squarely, the indicia opposite the indicator tip would read O,etc.

It should be understood that when the nuts 79 are backed off sufficiently, the radial arm 37 is free to pivot about the axle bolt 73 while the bolt 77 remains within the arcuate apertures 65, 67. This feature enables the radial arm 37 to be firmly held at infinite angular settings for selectively adjusting the device 11 for compatibility with the various peculiar angles between a valve stem 15 and the plane of the head structure 13 pertaining to a variety of valve-in-head engines. In this regard, the indicia along the lower edge of the respective vertical platelike members 47, 49 would correspond to angular settings for the more popular trade name automobile engines, enabling the user to quickly align the device 11 for compatibility with the peculiar settings for a particular engine. Additionally, the indicia along the lower edge of the respective platelike members 47, 49 would read 0" as above described and would read angular settings at a constant increased rate on either side of the 0" mark, so as to provide alignment marks for valve stems having angles either inclined toward or away from the attachment stud 23.

The vertical adjustment means of the device 11 comprises the nutlike attachment means 27 which is integrally attached to the guide pintle 29 and has the downwardly directed threaded bore 43. The nutlike attachment means 27 may be selectively adjusted vertically by being threaded further onto or off of the stud 23.

In operation, the user first determines the angular relationship of the valve stem 15 with the plane of the head 13 and adjusts the angular adjustment means by aligning the proper indicia opposite the indicator pip 81 and securely tightens the nuts 79.

Secondly, the guide pintle 29 is threaded onto the stud 23, being an adjacent stationary part of the engine normally used to secure the rocker arm assembly.

Thirdly, the reach adjustment means is adjusted so as to enable the preferred portion of the grinding wheel 41, having a planar face portion 83, to pass over the end 25 of the valve stem 15. It should be understood that the socket 45 of the upright member 35 snugly fits over the guide pintle 29 and the radial arm 37 is free to pivot about the vertical axis of the pintle guide 29.

Fourthly, the chuck of the drill motor 33 is securely attached in the normal manner to the upper end of the shaft 31 and when properly energized, causes the grinding wheel 41 to rotate. The final step includes pivoting the radial arm 37 about the vertical axis of the guide pintle 29 while the grinding wheel 41 is rotating and at the same time slowly turning the nutlike attachment 27 for selectively adjusting the height of the grinding wheel 41 so that it may wear away a greater portion of the upper end 25 of valve stem 15 with each sweep eventually squaring the end thereof.

The above procedure is repeated for each of the valves in the head structure 13; however, since the valves 15 each have the same angular relationship with the plane of the head structure 13, the angular adjustment means need not be readjusted for each valve and usually the reach adjustment means need not be readjusted. Therefore, the preferred procedure in moving from a completed valve 15 to the next valve 15 is to simply lift the upright member 35 from the guide pintle 29, leaving the drill motor 33 attached, and unthreading the nutlike attachment 27 from the stud 23 and threading it onto the stud 23 adjacent the next valve to be reworked.

It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that different trade name engines may have different size studs 23, accordingly, the intent of the present invention is that the nutlike attachment means 27 comprises a group of these items, each having a peculiar size threaded bore 43 so that the device 11 may be fully compatible with the various trade name engines.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A valve stem grinding device for squaring the end of a worn valve stem for a valve-in-head internal combustion engine while the valve remains intact with the head structure of the engine, said device comprising a guide pintle means, attachment means attaching said guide pintle means to a stationary part of the engine, a shaft, a motor driving said shaft, support means having an inner and an outer end, bearing means for rotatably joumaling said shaft from said support means adjacent the outer end thereof, abrasive means attached to said shaft for rotation of said abrasive means, said support means adjacent the inner end thereof movably engaging said pintle means for swinging movement of said rotating abrasive means about the vertical axis of said pintle means enabling said rotating abrasive means to sweepingly engage the worn end of the valve stem repeatedly, and said attachment means including vertical adjustment means for selectively adjusting the height of said abrasive means so as to wear away a greater portion of the valve stem with each sweep eventually squaring the end thereof.

2. The device of claim 1 in which said guide pintle means is cylindrical and upwardly directed and said vertical adjustment means of said attachment means includes a polygonal sided lower portion integrally attached to said pintle means, and said lower portion being provided with a downwardly directed threaded bore for threadedly engaging a stationary part of the eng ne.

3. The device of claim 2 in which said support means includes an upright member having a lower and an upper end, said lower end being provided with a downwardly directed socket pivotally engaging said pintle means and said support member additionally includes a radial arm being axially attached to said upper end of said upright member reaching outwardly from said upright member toward the valve of the engine, and said radial arm being of a length so that when said radial arm pivots about the vertical axis of said pintle means a portion thereof passes adjacent to and above the valve.

4. The device of claim 3 in which said radial arm includes a pair of vertically disposed parallel spaced apart platelike members at the inner end thereof and a horizontal platelike member at the outer end, said vertical and said horizontal platelike members each being provided with at least one aperture, said upper end being provided with at least one transverse aperture, said radial arm being axially attached to said upright member by having the axle extending respectively through said apertures in said vertical platelike members and said transverse aperture in said upper end of said upright member with said vertical platelike members straddling said upper end of said upright member, and said shaft joumaled to said horizontal platelike member by having said shaft extending substantially vertically through said aperture in said horizontal platelike member to enable said abrasive means to rotate about a substantially vertical axis a predetermined distance outwardly from the substantially vertical axis of said pintle.

5. The device of claim 3 in which is included angle adjusting means coacting with said upright member and said radial arm, said radial arm includes a pair of vertically disposed parallel spaced apart platelike members at the inner end thereof and a horizontal platelike member at the outer end, each of said vertical platelike members being provided with a first and second aperture, said first aperture having an elongated arcuate shape with the center of curvature being concentric with said second aperture, said upper end of said upright member being provided with an upper transverse aperture and a parallel spaced apart lower transverse aperture, said radial arm being axially attached to said upright member by having the axle extending respectively through said second apertures in said vertical platelike members and said upper aperture in said upright member to allow said radial arm to pivot about a horizontal axis, said angle adjusting means includes an elongated bolt and a nut, and said bolt extending respectively through said first arcuate apertures in said vertical platelike members and said lower transverse aperture in said upright member and said nut threadedly engaging said bolt so as to bindingly fix said radial arm to said upright member enabling said radial arm to be firmly held at infinite angular settings for selectively adjusting the device for compatibility with the various peculiar angles between a valve stem and attachment structure pertaining to a variety of valve-in-head engines.

6. The device of claim 5 in which is included reach adjustment means adjacent the outer end of said horizontal platelike member of said radial arm for selective lateral adjustment of said abrasive means towards and away from said upright member.

7. A valve stem grinding device for squaring the end of a worn valve stem for a valve-in-head internal combustion engine while the valve remains intact with the head structure of the engine, said device comprising a guide pintle means, attachment means attaching said guide pintle to a stationary part of the engine, said pintle means being cylindrical and upwardly directed, a shaft, a motor driving said shaft, an upright supporting member having a lower and an upper end, a radial arm having an inner end and an outer end, a bearing means for rotatably joumaling said shaft to said radial arm adjacent the outer end thereof, an abrasive means attached to said shaft for rotation of said abrasive means, said upright support member provided with a downwardly directed socket adjacent the lower end thereof pivotally engaging said pintle means for swinging movement of said rotating abrasive means about the vertical axis of said pintle means enabling said abrasive means to sweepingly pass over the worn end of the valve stem repeatedly, an angle adjusting means including an elongated bolt and a nut, said upper end of said upright member being provided with at least one transverse aperture, said inner end of said radial arm being provided with at least one aperture, said inner end of said radial arm being adjustably secured to said upper end of said upright member by said bolt extending respectively through said aperture of said upright member and said aperture of said radial arm so as to bindingly fix said radial am to said upright member enabling said radial arm to be firmly held at infinite angular settings for selectively adjusting the device for compatibility with the various peculiar angles between a valve stem and attachment structure pertaining to a variety of valve-in-head engines, and said attachment means including vertical adjustment means for selectively adjusting the height of said abrasive means so as to wear away a greater portion of the valve stem with each sweep eventually squaring the end thereof.

8. The device of claim 7 in which said abrasive means comprises a grinding wheel. 

1. A valve stem grinding device for squaring the end of a worn valve stem for a valve-in-head internal combustion engine while the valve remains intact with the head structure of the engine, said device comprising a guide pintle means, attachment means attaching said guide pintle means to a stationary part of the engine, a shaft, a motor driving said shaft, support means having an inner and an outer end, bearing means for rotatably journaling said shaft from said support means adjacent the outer end thereof, abrasive means attached to said shaft for rotation of said abrasive means, said support means adjacent the inner end thereof movably engaging said pintle means for swinging movement of said rotating abrasive means about the vertical axis of said pintle means enabling said rotating abrasive means to sweepingly engage the worn end of the valve stem repeatedly, and said attachment means including vertical adjustment means for selectively adjusting the height of said abrasive means so as to wear away a greater portion of the valve stem with each sweep eventually squaring the end thereof.
 2. The device of claim 1 in which said guide pintle means is cylindrical and upwardly directed and said vertical adjustment means of said attachment means includes a polygonal sided lower portion integrally attached to said pintle means, and said lower portion being provided with a downwardly directed threaded bore for threadedly engaging a stationary part of the engine.
 3. The device of claim 2 in which said support means includes an upright member having a lower and an upper end, said lower end being provided with a downwardly directed socket pivotally engaging said pintle means and said support member additionally includes a radial arm being axially attached to said upper end of said upright member reaching outwardly from said upright member toward the valve of the engine, and said radial arm beIng of a length so that when said radial arm pivots about the vertical axis of said pintle means a portion thereof passes adjacent to and above the valve.
 4. The device of claim 3 in which said radial arm includes a pair of vertically disposed parallel spaced apart platelike members at the inner end thereof and a horizontal platelike member at the outer end, said vertical and said horizontal platelike members each being provided with at least one aperture, said upper end being provided with at least one transverse aperture, said radial arm being axially attached to said upright member by having the axle extending respectively through said apertures in said vertical platelike members and said transverse aperture in said upper end of said upright member with said vertical platelike members straddling said upper end of said upright member, and said shaft journaled to said horizontal platelike member by having said shaft extending substantially vertically through said aperture in said horizontal platelike member to enable said abrasive means to rotate about a substantially vertical axis a predetermined distance outwardly from the substantially vertical axis of said pintle.
 5. The device of claim 3 in which is included angle adjusting means coacting with said upright member and said radial arm, said radial arm includes a pair of vertically disposed parallel spaced apart platelike members at the inner end thereof and a horizontal platelike member at the outer end, each of said vertical platelike members being provided with a first and second aperture, said first aperture having an elongated arcuate shape with the center of curvature being concentric with said second aperture, said upper end of said upright member being provided with an upper transverse aperture and a parallel spaced apart lower transverse aperture, said radial arm being axially attached to said upright member by having the axle extending respectively through said second apertures in said vertical platelike members and said upper aperture in said upright member to allow said radial arm to pivot about a horizontal axis, said angle adjusting means includes an elongated bolt and a nut, and said bolt extending respectively through said first arcuate apertures in said vertical platelike members and said lower transverse aperture in said upright member and said nut threadedly engaging said bolt so as to bindingly fix said radial arm to said upright member enabling said radial arm to be firmly held at infinite angular settings for selectively adjusting the device for compatibility with the various peculiar angles between a valve stem and attachment structure pertaining to a variety of valve-in-head engines.
 6. The device of claim 5 in which is included reach adjustment means adjacent the outer end of said horizontal platelike member of said radial arm for selective lateral adjustment of said abrasive means towards and away from said upright member.
 7. A valve stem grinding device for squaring the end of a worn valve stem for a valve-in-head internal combustion engine while the valve remains intact with the head structure of the engine, said device comprising a guide pintle means, attachment means attaching said guide pintle to a stationary part of the engine, said pintle means being cylindrical and upwardly directed, a shaft, a motor driving said shaft, an upright supporting member having a lower and an upper end, a radial arm having an inner end and an outer end, a bearing means for rotatably journaling said shaft to said radial arm adjacent the outer end thereof, an abrasive means attached to said shaft for rotation of said abrasive means, said upright support member provided with a downwardly directed socket adjacent the lower end thereof pivotally engaging said pintle means for swinging movement of said rotating abrasive means about the vertical axis of said pintle means enabling said abrasive means to sweepingly pass over the worn end of the valve stem repeatedly, an angle adjusting means including an elongated bolt and a nut, said upper end of said upright member being provided with at least one transverse aperture, said inner end of said radial arm being provided with at least one aperture, said inner end of said radial arm being adjustably secured to said upper end of said upright member by said bolt extending respectively through said aperture of said upright member and said aperture of said radial arm so as to bindingly fix said radial arm to said upright member enabling said radial arm to be firmly held at infinite angular settings for selectively adjusting the device for compatibility with the various peculiar angles between a valve stem and attachment structure pertaining to a variety of valve-in-head engines, and said attachment means including vertical adjustment means for selectively adjusting the height of said abrasive means so as to wear away a greater portion of the valve stem with each sweep eventually squaring the end thereof.
 8. The device of claim 7 in which said abrasive means comprises a grinding wheel. 